Study Programmes 2016-2017
ELEN0074-1  
Sensors, microsensors and instrumentation
Duration :
30h Th, 20h Labo.
Number of credits :
Master in biomedical engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in electrical engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in electro-mechanical engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in mechanical engineering (120 ECTS)5
Master in physical engineering (120 ECTS)5
Lecturer :
Philippe Vanderbemden
Language(s) of instruction :
English language
Organisation and examination :
Teaching in the second semester
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite :
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents :
Physical principles of resistive, inductive, capacitive, piezoelectric, magnetic, thermoelectric, ultrasonic and optoelectronic (micro)sensors. Interface electronic circuits.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit :
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
  • understand the physical principles of a range of sensors as well as their technical characteristics;
  • design and analyse appropriate interface circuits for a sensor with given characteristics;
  • appreciate various sources of noise and errors using sensors (e.g. industrial / biomedical applications or severe environmental conditions) and explain how to minimize them;
  • demonstrate practical skills as well as the ability to conduct a physical variable measurement experiment using sensors.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills :
An optional update session at the beginning of the term (i.e. beginning of February) will be organized primarily for the group of people who has never followed the "electrical measurements" course (ELEC 0052) but will be open to everybody.
A half-day (4 hours) is enough for this update session. The aim is to introduce (or remind) the electricity notions that will be useful for the "Sensors" course. Slides will be available. Since this represents additional work, the students who have never followed the "electrical measurements" course (ELEC 0052) will be exempt from a few parts of ELEN0074 involving certain electronic concepts.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course is based on "ex-cathedra" lectures (30 hours) and practical courses (30 hours).
The "ex-cathedra" lectures describe in detail the theoretical concepts involved in sensor physical principles and technical characteristics.
The practical courses involve 5 mandatory laboratory sessions.
During the laboratory sessions (1/2 day each), the students are in teams of (ideally) 3 people and carry out a number of electrical measurement experiments illustrating and aiming at understanding in detail the theoretical and practical concepts described in the theoretical lectures.
An optional "questions & answers" session is proposed at the end of the quadrimester.
Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
Face-to-face
Recommended or required readings :
Slides + course book (the latter will be available at the "Centrale des cours de l'AEES"), both in English.
Assessment methods and criteria :
Throughout the year : written tests during laboratory sessions, laboratory reports

June : oral exam (theory + lab).
Work placement(s) :
Organizational remarks :
Theoretical lectures (30 hours) : 2nd semester. Practical courses (30 hours) : schedule to be determined depending on the measurement lab vacancies.
1. Exams and tests are taken without access to course material, calculators or equivalent. 2. The oral exam (theoretical part + practical part) takes place in the S101 room (Montefiore Institute B28) and lasts 1/2 day. Maximum 6 students per 1/2 day. Morning : 8:30, Afternoon : 13:30.
Contacts :
Philippe Vanderbemden Tel : 04 366 26 70 Philippe.Vanderbemden@ulg.ac.be
Laurent Wera and Loic Burger, teaching assistants, Tel : 04 366 2675 laurent.wera@ulg.ac.be
Items online :
ELEN0074 Laboratory manual. Version 2017.
Laboratory manual for lab sessions.